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This doesn't impact me but I found it interesting.
Just my opinion, the folks in the unincorporated areas have gotten a very good deal for a long time and it is only fair that they pay something toward fire protection.
Is Glen Ellyn FD the only ones covering these areas or are other Villages involved? Doesn't Glendale Hts, Lombard, Wheaton and Carol Stream also provide coverage in some of these areas?!
Aren't you required to pay some sort of a fee if the Fire Department sends a truck to your house? What gives the Village the authority to impose a tax outside of their jurisdiction?
I wouldn't be surprised if this is a first step in increasing the "tax base" for Glen Ellyn, prior to incorporating these areas.
I was only able to afford $75.00 this year. The increased sales tax and questionable traffic enforcement has taken its toll on my budget.
Actually, I think it impacts us all. If the GEFD can't stay in the black they will be forced to go full time and everyone’s taxes will go up.
How many people here have donated to the GEFD this year? Trust me the $100 per household and $150 per business is a heck of a deal. The Village pays for the upkeep of the equipment and stations, plus a few other things for a total of $619,500.
If they are forced to go full time expect a very large bump in your taxes.
You would all be shocked at the small number of homes/businesses that contribute.
Before you all start going on about how the department should be fulltime… They are a very well trained group of Men and Women with top notch equipment.
Posts: 1072 | Location: 41.861337,-88.07474 | Registered: December 27, 2007
I know that in 1995, the Carol Stream Fire Protection District's piece of the real estate tax bill for a house assessed at around $330,00 was $723 with an additional $28.75 for the pension fund. No one is getting "shafted" by this tax - the free ride just ended for some.
It is a good deal for unincorporated residents but I'm not sure this solves the problem. It may just be time to give up the volunteer status and charge everyone equitably for the service. Also, surely many residents in the Village proper don't contribute (except for the property tax portion for upkeep). Also, I'm guessing that the the Village is servicing unincorporated areas that are within their planning jurisdiction. These areas slowly annex into the Village which will diminish the tax receipts.
Also seem a little weird that the unincorporated areas account for 15% of the calls even though they are a much smaller fraction of the population serviced. Living south of FDR the whole area is sort of a rambling border between incorporated and unincorporated areas. I'm right on the border and have incorporated and unincorporated neighbors- really can't tell one area from the other- big homes, little homes. Maybe there's more multi-family units in unincorporated areas?
Just seems like a stop gap measure if there's on-going budget problems.
And I do proudly display my little annual fire hat sticker.
"We're being held hostage," said Robert Vasicek, who lives north of St. Charles Road in the northwest part of the fire company's service region. "If we don't let them go through with the taxing body, we'll lose fire protection, and our insurance rates are going to go through the roof. We're getting shafted."
If I were this chap...I'd zip my mouth, write the check, and feel as though I got away with something. Complaining about such a pitiful amount...compared to what it could be...is chutzpah!
I give. Well worth the cost of a night out on the town.
Posts: 9128 | Location: CLEA | Registered: November 04, 2004
My brother is in unincorporated, past golf couse off hill near the Lombard/355 part. (near those old RR homes, the teeny tiny homes on Hill). His house interior burned -pretty bad and I believe, GE, Lombard and even? I could check, Glenbard and maybe Villa Park. Those last two may be reaching but I do know 2 muncipalies did make it there GE & Lombard, within minutes and the others may have come later. Very Very impressive!!! I've tried to give here and there through out the year if I can. Some years it was more, some years -skipped. So it has evened out. Now it is time again! Actually -funny note, Several times I have paid for a fire marker-Once they were out so I wasn't upset I said I'd try some other year for one. Then for their cenential anniversary recently, I went in person again, paid my money, and the markers apparently were defective and being redone for the 100th year. Never accomplished anything with that one either. When I hand turn in $$, they seem to never 'record it'-whatever that means- and they keep sending us reminders. So know I might try Paypal and see where that leads. Maybe I can try for a fire marker but again -long shot, as I have to go and do the money in person with that.
How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl, Year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
Oh, no no no, I'm not looking for a freebee, those years have passed, and now it's a new collection drive. I'll try this year, but On my brochure, it looks like you can drop off every day, but online, it's Mondays. I'll figure out something.
How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl, Year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
Lupe, that happened to us as well. Payed for a firemark several years and never got one. No biggie. We did however, get an anniversary book which was interesting.
Figured it was probably time to re-up... went to the web site and then to the “donate” page... was surprised to see it was stilled called the 2008 campaign... it said I could contributr by either Paypal or credit card... couldn't find anything to click on for Paypal... filled in my credit card info instead, but the form went blank when I got near the end...
Maybe they're not accepting donations any more because last year's fundraising campaign is over? Guess I'll try again in a month or two, to see if they've instituted a 2009 campaign. Hope I remember. —Ted E.
Posts: 1342 | Location: Glen Ellyn, IL USA | Registered: March 21, 2003
While you're at it...I couldn't get a straight answer about what caused the explosion at the bonfire was last night. Someone must have been a little surprised when that thing went up like that! Good to see no one got hurt.
Posts: 9128 | Location: CLEA | Registered: November 04, 2004
We donated to the GEFD every year. Bought our fire mark the first year it came out and two firemen delivered it to our home in a shiny firetruck. The plaque now hangs proudly on our home here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. To those who say they can't afford to contribute...try skipping one night out with the family. And, I'm sure, any amount is appreciated.
As for Mr. Vasicek. We stopped listening to his whining (on a number of subjects) about 25 years ago. Seems he hasn't changed.
How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl, Year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
Actually-I'm just happy for Howdy60137 getting paypal to work, which was tied to Ted's reply. I was going to mail or drop off my payment. Maybe I'll try the Paypal link again.
How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl, Year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
Complaining about such a pitiful amount...compared to what it could be...is chutzpah! 
Good to see no one got hurt.
